Target for trap shooting and the like



Jime 2, 1925. 1,539,911

W. D. VERSCHOYLE TARGET FOR TRAP SHOOTING AND THE LIKE Filed May 17, 1924 Patented June 2, 1925.

WILLIAM DENHAM VERSCHOYLE, 0F BALLISODARE, IRELAND.

TARGET non TRAP SHOOTING AND THE LIKE.

Application filed May 17, 1924. Serial No. 713,889.

To all whom it may concern.

7 Be it known that I, VILLIAM DENHAM. Vnnscnornn, of Tanrago, Ballisodare, in the county of Sligo, Ireland, mining engineer, a subject of the King of Great Britain, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Targets for Trap Shooting and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to targets for trapshooting and the like and has for its object to provide an improved target which will be more difficult to hit than those in use hereto fore, thus increasing the interest of such shooting, especially for experts who can break from 90% to 100% of the usual clay pigeons.

According to the present invention the improved target is constituted by a plate comprising two sections united by a neck portion, all of which are curved, out of the flat, transversely of a line which substantially bisects each of said sections and neck portion, whilst a slight twist may be imparted to the sections themselves as in pro- ;ellor blades.

The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a face view of one form of the improved tar get; Figure 2 is a section on the line 2 2, Figure 1: Figure 3 is a face view of a modified form of target; Figure l is a section on the line -tl, Figure 3; Figure 5 is a face view of a further modification of the invention, and Figure 0 is a section on the line (5 0, Figure 5.

In accordance with the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2, the target-is a circular disc with two diametrically oppo site notches a 7) which divide the disc into two sections 0 (l united by a neck portion 6. As shown in Figure 2, the disc is cambered by being curved slightly in a direction from notch to notch, the camber being variable according to requirements. If such a disc be gripped at either end of the crown of the camber and projected horizontally from a trap so as to cause it to spin in a horizontal plane about its centre of gravity, its flight will be fairly regular, much like that of an ordinary clay pigeon, but faster, and it has been found that good results may be obtained with a disc of about 4: diameter and thickness.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the profile of the target may be constituted by the major arcs of two intersecting circles, and the line f g transversely of which the target is curved is that on which lie the centres h and y of the circles. If such a target be made with its two sections 0, (Z symmetrical, the centres Z2. and j of the circles being spaced aparta distance approximately equal tothe radius of said circles, and said target be projected horizontally as above, its flight will be fairly regular, much like that of an ordinary clay pigeon but longer and faster. If however, the two sections 0 and cl be made asymmetrical they will react unequally on the air, causing eccentricity of the spinning and a resultant erratic line of flight.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 5 and 6 the profile of the target is constituted by the major arcs of two mutually tangential circles, side by side, the curvilinear angles between which are partly filled into constitute the neck portion 6,

whilst the line 7 g transversely of which the target is curved is that on which lie the centres h, of the circles.

If such a target be made with its two sections 0, (Z symmetrical and if it be projected horizontally as above, the reaction on the air, caused by the spinning, tendsto pro duce a constant lifting effect, and, in practice, it is found that the target rises along a curved path and returns substantially to the starting point, like a boomerang. Here again asymmetry of the two sections 0, (Z of the target will cause eccentricity of the spinning and a resultant erratic line of flight.

It has been found that the two sections 0, (l of the target may be shaped otherwise than above mentioned, e. g., rectangular, rhombic, elliptical and so on, whilst asymmetry of the two sections may be caused by differences of thickness, and therefore of weight, differences of dimensions, shape and/or camber.

If the improved target be projected. in a gripping: efi'ect of which isadj-ustable as, the best efi'ects may be obtained by suitable correlation of the initial velocity, size, we,lght

and camber of the target. y

The improved target may be made of frangible material, as is usual with clay pigeons, in which case it may be produced more cheaply, or it maybe made from light sheet or cast metal, in which case it may be used as an attractive toy.

I claim 1 I 1'. An improved target for trap shooting and the like constituted by a plate comprising two sections, and a neck portion uniting said sections, said sections and neck portion being curved, out of the flat, transversely of a line which substantially bisects each of said sections and neck portion. p

2". An improved target for trap shooting '5. A target fortrap'shooting and the like,

as claimed in claim 1,the sections of which are asymmetrical substantially as set forth.

WILLIAM DENHAM VERSCHOYLE. 

